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The Safety Of
Bottled Water |
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A look inside... |
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We at Puretap are proud to offer you the finest
drinking water for you and your family.
If you are concerned about bisphenol A, read all the facts
here.
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April 2009
Dowload the Health
Canada Bulletin (pdf) and/or read it below:
There has been an increase in the Canadian consumption of
bottled water in recent years.
Illness caused by bottled water is very rare in Canada, because
the water is treated, disinfected, and monitored to make sure
it does not contain harmful microorganisms or chemicals. However,
to maintain the safety of bottled water, you must also handle
and store it properly.
Bottled water is water sold to consumers in sealed glass or
plastic containers. In Canada, bottled water is considered
to be a food and is regulated under the Food and Drugs Act.
Under the Act and its regulations, all bottled water offered
for sale in Canada must be safe for people to drink. In addition,
the companies that bottle water must comply with quality standards,
good manufacturing practices, and labelling requirements.
Bottled water labelled as “mineral” or “spring”
water, is potable water (fit for human consumption) that comes
from an underground source. It cannot come from a public water
supply. Other types of bottled water may be manufactured from
public sources, including tap water and well water. No matter
what source it comes from, all bottled water sold in Canada
is inspected and treated during the manufacturing process
to ensure that it meets Canada’s requirements for safety
and quality.
The benefits associated with bottled water depend on your
personal preferences. Some people choose bottled water because
it is handy; they can just grab it and go. It is also a convenient
way to store large amounts of water for emergency purposes.
(Public Safety
Canada recommends storing enough water to supply your family
for at least 72 hours as part of your basic emergency kit.
This means 2 litres of water per person per day for drinking,
plus water for pets. You can also store an additional 2 litres
of water per person per day, for cooking and cleaning.)
Others may choose bottled water because they prefer the taste
when compared with water from other sources (e.g., tap water,
well water). Some people think that bottled water is safer
than tap water, but there is no evidence to support this.
The quality standards for bottled and municipal waters in
Canada are similar. All bottled and municipal waters that
meet or exceed
the required health and safety standards are considered to
be safe.
Risks Associated With Bottled Water Bottled water sold in
Canada has generally been found to be of good quality and
is not considered to pose any health hazard. To date, there
have been no reports of outbreaks of illness related to bottled
water in Canada.
Health Canada is aware of reports appearing on the Internet
expressing concern that harmful chemicals may leach into the
water if plastic water bottles are left in vehicles exposed
to summer heat. However, there is no scientific evidence to
support such concerns. Studies conducted on plastic water
bottles, even under extreme temperatures, have failed to find
that chemicals are produced at levels that would pose a health
risk to anyone who drinks the water in question.
Some consumers have also expressed concern about the small
white particles that often appear in bottled water that has
been frozen and then thawed. These particles are minerals
that separated from the water when it went through the extreme
temperature change. They are not harmful to human health.
However, the safety of bottled water may be adversely affected
by improper handling and storage. For example, it is possible
for bottled water to become contaminated with bacteria when
the mouths and hands of consumers come into contact with the
bottle opening. These bacteria could then multiply rapidly,
especially if the bottle is not refrigerated. The steps outlined
below can help minimize risks related to buying, handling,
and storing bottled water.
When buying bottled water
Examine the inside and outside of the bottle before you buy
it. Avoid bottles that have a broken seal, and report any
tampering to the store manager and health officials. Also,
make sure the water is clear and has no material floating
in it.
Check the label for the “bestbefore” date. Most
Canadian manufacturers of bottled water
indicate that the product has a shelf-life of one to two years.
Handling/using bottled water
Do not share bottles (i.e., do not have more than one person
drink directly from the bottle), as this may introduce bacteria
into the water. Pour the water into clean cups or glasses,
if more than one person is using the bottle.
Refrigerate the bottle after you open it (or right after you
buy it, if possible). Like other foods,
bottled water contains low numbers of harmless bacteria. However,
these bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature. Refrigerating
the bottle helps to maintain low levels
of bacteria.
Always practice good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with
soap and warm water, especially after bathroom breaks or after
handling animals. This will help prevent the contamination
of foods, including bottled water.
Keep in mind that the plastic containers holding single-serve
bottled water were designed to be used only once. Avoid refilling
them. Where possible, recycle these bottles.
Storing bottled water (unopened)
It is best to refrigerate bottled water, but if this is not
possible, store it in a cool, clean, dark place, such as the
basement. Keep it away from heat and sunlight. Also, keep
it away from any household solvents (e.g., paintthinners,
cleaners, etc.) Over time, solvents can get into the air and
then leach through the plastic bottle into the water.
When storing large amounts of water for emergency purposes,
be sure to rotate or replace the inventory to ensure that
no bottle is stored beyond its “best-before” date.
Health Canada sets policies and standards governing the safety
and quality of all food sold in Canada. As part of this role,
Health Canada works with other government agencies and the
Canadian Bottled Water Association to ensure that bottled
water sold to Canadian consumers is safe to drink and of high
quality. Health Canada also reviews the safety of materials
used
in food packaging, including the plastic used as containers
for bottled water sold in Canada.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces the policies
and standards set by Health Canada and ensures that necessary
warnings are released quickly to the Canadian public.
Here is more reading material on this subject.
Questions and Answers on Bottled Water (Health Canada), at:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/acts-faits/faqs_bottle_water-eau_embouteillee_e.html
In addition to giving safety tips, this article defines different
types of bottled waters and explains the purpose of different
treatments systems for bottled water. It also goes into detail
about the safety of water coolers.
Food Safety Facts on Bottled Water (Canadian Food Inspection
Agency), at:
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/specif/bottwate.shtml
Canadian Bottled Water Association, at www.cbwa.ca/
For information about the safety of drinking water (i.e.,
tap water), go to
Health Canada’s Water Quality Web section, at:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/water-eau/index_e.html
For additional articles on health and safety issues go to
the It's Your Health Web section, at:
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/iyh
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Puretap water has:
No pesticides
No chlorine
No copper
No cyanide
No lead
No mercury
No nickel
No phenolics
No selenium
No silver
No zinc
No phenols
No volatile organics
No dioxin |
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70% of the human body is
made up of water
Water in the body is completely replaced
every 3 to 4 days
It is recommended we drink
6 to 8 glasses of water a day
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